Mumbai: Terror toll continues
Seven nights after the Mumbai terror attacks the victim toll is increasing day by day. After claiming the lives of more then 200 people and injuring around 300 people, the trauma for India has not stopped. The aftershocks are still being felt across India. The new list of victims contain those names, which even the murderers who came from across the sea had not thought of. Here is the list of some of the most unexpected, but the biggest victims of the terror strike are:
Shivraj Patil
It took a year of attacks and more then 1000 deaths in 2008, to take away the seat of Home Minister of India from him. Shivraj Patil, who has been in public life for over four decades, was brought into the Manmohan Singh Cabinet as he was considered a complete Gandhi loyalist and Sonia Gandhi had turned down repeated demands for his ouster from the government. 73-year old Patil was in the hot seat for four and a half years and had survived many a controversy. His survival skills made him the brand ambassdor of Fevicol. His induction in the key ministry after the Congress-led UPA came to power in May 2004 was a major surprise. The Home Minister had kept the morals of common men high by changing his dress thrice on the day when Delhi was rocked by serial blasts in September this year, conveying to the people that all is well and under control by his actions. Besides not enjoying the heavyweight status of his predecessor Advani, his failure to communicate effectively in an era of television sound-bites made matters worse for him. Questioned about his dress, he had retorted “Am I a drunkard? Do I play cards?”. He was an perfect example of loyalty and how loyalty pays. He will be missed for for his no comments on the state of the nation and his inactiveness.
R.R. Patil
The next big casualty of the blast was R.R. Patil aka the Dance Bar boy. During the past 5 year rule of UPA goverment in Maharashtra he will be remembered as the man who single handedly closed all the dance bars across Mumbai and brought back some morality in this immoral city. His second achievement was that under his guidance Mumbai police thwarted a big conspiracy of death of 5000 people. Whatever others say, most of you will agree with him that Mumbai is a very big city and 200 deaths in this city are just like taking out a drop of water from ocean. He was removed for no fault of his, he was made martyr of the laxity of Navy, Coastguard, Mumbai Police and the rule of another Patil. His biggest achievement in 5 years was to give birth to another Frankenstein aka Raj Saheb to the city of Mumbai.
Vilasrao Deshmukh
Third casuailty is Vilasrao Deshmukh sahab aka Rithesh cha bappa. During past 5 years he had been busy; increasing the FSI every other day, make money and send it to Delhi so that the Congress could fight next election. Just now when he found a new way to mint more money by increasing FSI for fishermen so they can build concrete houses right on sea shore. Next time terrorists can comfortably live in those houses , enjoy the beauty of sea and then attack Mumbai at their will. The current attacks provided him with great opportunity to launch his son Ritesh in the new film by RGV "Mumbai ki Aag". Thanks to Ganpati there is now no need to create the set for it. He will also be remembered as the only chief minister who never leads his government in election, but returns back to take the responsibility.
V S Achuthanandan
Another surprise victim is Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. His visit to late NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's family is proving to be fatal for him politically. When the CM V.S Achuthanandan reached Maj Sandeep’s house, he was not allowed to get into the house by Sandeep’s father as he was very much upset for many reasons. One could be he lost his only son and nobody from the Kerala Government had come for the funeral. But this was not the way a Chief Minister has to be treated. May be Sandeep's father doesn't know the true prestige of CM's post. It may be right or wrong but a CM is a CM always. He should have been given proper respect by the family grieving over their son’s death. When V S Achuthanandan said that “If it had not been (Major) Sandeep’s house, not even a dog would have glanced that way.”, he meant that if it had not been votes he would have not visited the martyr's home. 
Coming days may throw such more unlikely victims of the terror attacks. These are the true martyr's, who threw away their masks and showed their real feelings. It is time for people to pay a perfect homage to these victims.
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MAHARASHTRA was minus a Chief Minister tonight after the Congress leadership accepted the resignation of Vilasrao Deshmukh but delayed a decision on his replacement.
Congress sources indicated that Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan, who had earlier been consid ered serious contenders, were more or less out of the race as the party wanted a leader active in the state for the top job. Three leaders had emerged as the new candidates — Narayan Rane, Ashok Chavan and Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil.
Rane, the sources said, was the frontrunner since he also had the blessings of Sharad Pawar, chief of ally NCP. Deshmukh and Rane have had a running battle with the latter sniping at the CM openly, even seeking his removal.
“Much will depend on the mood of the state legislature party,” said a senior Congress leader. It is learnt that the NCP was agreeable to Shinde as CM but the Congress wanted a Maratha leader. Prithviraj Chavan was not acceptable to the NCP since he comes from Karad in the NCP bastion of western Maharashtra and the party views him as a threat. The NCP also considers Ashok Chavan “too junior”.
Emerging from an hourlong meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi late this evening, A K Antony, AICC in-charge of Maharashtra, said: “His (Deshmukh’s) resignation has been accepted. Observers will go there tomorrow and a new name will be announced thereafter.” Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to the Congress Deshmukh gone, Rane frontrunner as Cong delays successor announcement D K SINGH ered serious contenders, CM openly, even seeking his Ashok Chavan “too junior”. NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 3 were more or less out of the removal. Emerging from an hour race as the party wanted a “Much will depend on the long meeting with Congress MAHARASHTRA was mi- leader active in the state for mood of the state legislature president Sonia Gandhi late nus a Chief Minister tonight the top job. Three leaders party,” said a senior Con- this evening, A K Antony, after the Congress leader- had emerged as the new can- gress leader. It is learnt that AICC in-charge of Mahaship accepted the resigna- didates — Narayan Rane, the NCP was agreeable to rashtra, said: “His (Deshtion of Vilasrao Deshmukh Ashok Chavan and Balasa- Shinde as CM but the Con- mukh’s) resignation has but delayed a decision on his heb Vikhe-Patil. gress wanted a Maratha been accepted. Observers replacement. Rane, the sources said, leader. Prithviraj Chavan was will go there tomorrow and a Congress sources indi- was the frontrunner since he not acceptable to the NCP new name will be announced cated that Union Power also had the blessings of since he comes from Karad thereafter.” Minister Sushil Kumar Sharad Pawar, chief of ally in the NCP bastion of west- Pranab Mukherjee and Shinde and Minister of State NCP. Deshmukh and Rane ern Maharashtra and the Ahmed Patel, Political Secin PMO Prithviraj Chavan, have had a running battle party views him as a threat. retary to the Congress who had earlier been consid- with the latter sniping at the The NCP also considers CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 president, were also present at the meeting in 10, Janpath. Earlier in the day, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was also said to have called on Antony to discuss the issue.
Deshmukh had offered to quit on Monday, repeating it on Tuesday when he met Sonia Gandhi. While the writing on the wall was clear for Deshmukh, he was counting on differences of opinion between the Congress and NCP over the name of his successor.
Meanwhile, the NCP is said to be getting ready to nominate Chhagan Bhujbal as Deputy Chief Minister. He will fill in for R R Patil who had to go after the Mumbai terror attacks.
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